Generally, the R-3 district is composed of certain quiet, low density residential areas within and surrounding unincorporated villages or rural residential settlements and points of historic or scenic interest in the County.

This district is established for the specific purpose of providing for the preservation and protection of historic and scenic areas and providing the essential village characteristics of such areas. It is intended that this district support existing designated growth areas by encouraging the district's placement adjacent to such growth areas as found in the Comprehensive Plan in order to transition from the higher intensity uses of growth areas to lower intensity uses as found in the rural areas of the county outside of designated growth areas.

The regulations for the district as designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the district and to prohibit extensive and large scale agricultural, industrial and commercial activities.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011)

Permitted uses and structures in an R-3 district are as follows:

(1)

Minor subdivisions, conventional.

(2)

Major subdivisions, cluster.

(3)

Single-family detached dwellings.

(4)

Two-family dwellings.

(5)

Manufactured homes.

(6)

Modular housing units.

(7)

Accessory uses and structures.

(8)

Boarding, rooming or lodging houses and bed and breakfast inns.

(9)

Cemeteries.

(10)

Church or civic community centers.

(11)

Foster care and adult family care (home-based).

(12)

Home occupations.

(13)

In home daycare.

(14)

Public library, civic clubs and lodges.

(15)

Short-term rental dwellings.

(16)

Uses relating to agriculture, limited to the raising of field crops, haying and grazing pasture land, the keeping of animals and fowl, and forestry.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 14-05, 10-14-2014; Ord. No. 16-08, 10-11-2016; Ord. No. 22-04, 8-9-2022; Ord. No. 22-03, 9-12-2023; Ord. No. 23-01, 9-12-2023)

The following uses are permitted in the R-3 district with a conditional use permit:

(1)

Churches.

(2)

Day care centers.

(3)

Electrical substations.

(4)

Game preserves and conservation areas.

(5)

Gift and antique shops.

(6)

Group homes.

(7)

Guest houses.

(8)

Museums.

(9)

Nursing homes, convalescent homes and rest homes.

(10)

Professional offices.

(11)

Recreational facilities.

(12)

Special recreational events.

(13)

Transitional homes.

(14)

Wireless telecommunications facilities; subject to provisions of section 74-731 et seq.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 11-08, 2-14-2012; Ord. No. 18-06, 11-13-2018; Ord. No. 22-06, 8-9-2022)

The minimum gross residential density and the minimum lot area shall be as prescribed in Table 32.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 22-04, 8-9-2022)

(a)

The minimum required setbacks and the minimum required yards shall be as prescribed in Table 33.

(b)

No accessory structure, except for permitted fences, walls, and ornamental structures may occupy a required front setback.

(c)

Minor and limited encroachments are allowed as prescribed in section 74-136(b).

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 13-04, 10-8-2013; Ord. No. 16-10, 3-14-2017; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

The minimum required lot frontage and the minimum required lot width shall be as prescribed in Table 34.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

Buildings in an R-3 district may be erected up to thirty-five (35) feet in height; except that:

(1)

Any building may be erected to a height of sixty (60) feet from grade, provided that the required front, side and rear yards shall be increased by one (1) foot for each foot in height over thirty-five (35) feet.

(2)

Church spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennas, radio aerials, and bona fide farm buildings or structures as defined by Code of Virginia § 36-97, as that section may from time to time be amended and/or recodified are exempt from height requirements.

(3)

No accessory building which is within twenty (20) feet of any property line shall be more than one (1) story high. All accessory buildings shall be less than the main building in height.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

Any lot or parcel fronting on two (2) or more roads must conform to the frontage, minimum lot width, and setback requirements for all such roads.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

(a)

Residential density and lots: The minimum gross residential density and minimum residential lot area shall be as prescribed in Table 35.

(b)

Conservation lot required: A conservation lot shall be required in all R-3 cluster developments. The minimum conservation lot area (as a percentage of the total gross development acreage) shall be as prescribed in Table 35. Additional requirements for conservation lots within an R-3 cluster development shall be prescribed by section 74-156.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011)

(a)

The minimum required setbacks and the minimum required yards shall be as prescribed in Table 36.

(b)

No accessory structure, except for permitted fences, walls, and ornamental structures may occupy a required front setback.

(c)

Minor and limited encroachments are allowed as prescribed in section 74-136(b).

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 16-10, 3-14-2017; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

(a)

The minimum required lot frontage and the minimum required lot width shall be as prescribed in Table 37.

(b)

For the purposes of this section, any building lot which is separated from an existing public road by any conservation lot shall be deemed to front such existing public road for purposes of the application of such minimum frontage, setback and yard requirements unless the distance between the boundary of such conservation lot and any abutting residential lot shall be at least equal to the minimum setback requirement as listed in this subdivision.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

Buildings in an R-3 district may be erected up to thirty-five (35) feet in height; except that:

(1)

Any building may be erected to a height of sixty (60) feet from grade, provided that the required front, side and rear yards must be increased by one (1) foot for each one (1) foot in height over thirty-five (35) feet.

(2)

Church spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennas, radio aerials, and bona fide farm buildings or structures as defined by Code of Virginia, § 36-97, as that section may from time to time be amended and/or recodified are exempt from height requirements.

(3)

No accessory building which is within twenty (20) feet of any property line may be more than one (1) story high. All accessory buildings must be less than the main building in height.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)

Any lot or parcel fronting on two (2) or more roads must conform to the frontage, minimum lot width, and setback requirements for all such roads.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § c, 7-12-2011; Ord. No. 18-04, 5-14-2019)